Apparatus for assembling storage batteries.



T PATENTED NOV. 19. 1907. L H. FLANDERS. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLIOATIOE FILED 118.12. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR 4TTORIlY A I B2 2 No. 871,393. PATBNTED NOV. 19, 1907.

L.- H. PLANDERS. v APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig Z. m

WITNESSES:

aqaaw I Hg. 871,393. PATBNTED NOV. 19. 1907.

L. H. FLANDERS. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1904.

4 SHEETSBHEET 8.

WITMESSES I". -6 a L l zm er -9- 4 M1. I 1/ n romsr PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

L. H. PLANDERS. APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERIES.

3 vnu 3 1. 7 00 N APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1904.

\ SHEETS-SHEET 4.

mviivrok I rl/Alt WITNESSES: $3 2. A. M

its shaft-18.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. FLANDERS, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE 1 MACHINE COMPANY A CQRPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern:

io ployed to facilitate the assembling and connecting of the plate electrodes of secondary batteries, and it has for its object to provide such means therefor as will render the manufacture of secondary batteries more simple 1 6 and less expensive than has heretofore been ssible. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and Fig. 2 is a top lan view of an apparatus embodyin my mvention, certain portions in Fig. 1 bein broken away. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views 0 the molds and clamping bars employed in connection with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of'aflurality of plates clamped 111 pcsition rea the machine and plates bein broken away.

y to be burned together, parts of Fig. 7 isa perspective view 0. a special con-- necting plate and lug employed in a modified form of my invention, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the plate and lug .as used in connection with the mold bars. Fig.9 isl'a view in side elevation of a portion of the raising mechanism.

A rectangular frame-work 1 is supported by vertical uide rods 2, which operate in suitable guir es 3, properly secured to a table 4. The said rods and attached frame-work are raised and lowered, as desired, by means of suitable mechanism, a convenient means consisting of brackets 5 adjustably secured to the rods 2 by means of lugs 6 and set screws fl, and having racks 8 fastened thereto, plnions 9 meshing with said racks, a

shaft 10 on which the pinions are mounted,

and a hand-wlieel 11 on the end of the shaft. The frame-work 1 is secured in any desired position by means of a pawl 12 and ratchet wheel On each side of the frame-work 1 is a pair of parallel guides 14 oil-which blocks 15 are 'causedito. move byright and left-hand screw threads on shafts 16 that are actuated by meansotbevel gears 17, a hand-wheel 18 and Specification of Letters Patent.

.lpplication'fileli February 12, 1904- Berial No. 193.853.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

The blocks 15 comprise two parts 19 and 20, the former being threaded to engage the shafts 16 and being suitably attached to the ieces 20, and the latter serving both as guide locks and as supports for the mold bars 21, 22. 23 and 2-4 which are detachably fastened thereto by means of screws 25? The portions 26 of the shaft 16 are provided with right-hand screw threads and the portions 27 with left-hand screw threads, said portions being of larger diameter than the end portions 28 and 29, so that the corresponding blocks 15 may be readily slipped over said end portions. The portions 28 are provided with left-hand screw threads an the portions 29 with right hwd screw threads. It will be thus a parent that-the arrangement is such that t e mol'd bars 21 and 22 and also the bars 23 and 24 will be moved toward or away from each other according to the direction of rotation of the hand-wheel 18-.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it is seer that the mold bars are su plied withsuit-able -teeth 30, which intermes in such a manner as to guide the terminal lugs 31, which are cast integral with the battery plates 32, into suitable recesses 33. On the upper sides of said bars are fastened blocks 34 which are of such form as to provide open molds that partially surround the ends of the lugs 31. A

rod 35,consisting either of lead alone or of a lead sheath and a cop er core, and having a flared portion 36 at its ibwer end, is placed in a vertical position, with the flared end in the rounded portion 37 of the mold, substantially as shown. By means of lead and an oxf-hydrogen or other suitable flame, the various parts are welded together, thus forming a simple, neat junction without waste of material and with an expenditure of a minimum amount of labor.

It is, of course, understood that other bars may be constructed and substituted for those shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 such that any number of plates, within reasonable limits, may be joined. It is also evident that the structural details of the mold bars may be varied greatly without departing'from my inplaced on the tu 3; din such a manner that be pressed together 110 the battery plate:

. plovical, if desired.

. 40, the latter being operated by a hand-whee1 engages with a groove in the ot tom of said the batter; plates, so that all batteries of a boon clamped about the lugs, the battery rial which are generally placed between op osite sides, two pairs of mold bars are pro- -roris 2 are provided, actuates a second link 48, which opens a va ve 49 in a gas pipe frame-work 1 is raised the flame im inges on tel '5' plates having extended terminal lugs,

b means of a follower plate 39 and a screw 41. The follower plate 39 may be kept from turning by any suitable means, as, for instance, b', means of a raised uide 42 which plate.

Two nuts 43 and 44 are'provided on the screw 40, one to .actas a stop when the plates are sufficiently compressed and the other to act as a lock nut. The stop nut may be adjusted and locked to allow a certain space for particular size ma; be subjected to the same ressure without special care by the operator. 1

t is evident that means other than that shown for exerting pressure may be em- 'hen the battery plates have been sulficiently compressed and before the lugs thereof have been clamped by the mold bars, the pressure is relieved so that the plates are free to move. Then when the mold bars haveplates are caused to assume the prp er and approximately the same position wit reference to the sheets of non-conducting matetheni.

Since the batteries are usually assembled with the terminal lugs of alternate'plates on vn ed as shown, so that the in s from both oles of the battery are clampe and may be oined simultaneously. 1

In order to place the box 38 containing the assembled plates on the table, it is desirable to raise the frame-work 1 and its attached parts, which is done by means of the handwhe-el 11,.as before described. During this operation, a link 46, thatis pivotally attached to one of the stops 47 with which the 8n(l admits gas to the burner 51. The burner is adjusted at such an angle that when the the molds and keeps them hot. 'hen the frame-work is lowered, the gas is automatica'l; shutoil.

When a large number oi plates are to be joined, it. ma; be advantageous to emp o; a connecting plate 52 having a rod 35 attached thereto, as shown in Fig. 7, and adapted to be placed over the. ends of the lugs 31 of the l attcr plates, so that they project through the a erturcs 53 therein, as shown in Fig. 8. In this case the disk-shaped recesses 54 completely surround the lugs 31.

[claim as my invention:

1-. In apparatus for uniting storage bat- 3 the combination with a holder for said plates and means-for compressing the same in said holder, of one or more pairs of bars having.

toothed edges adapted to be-brought into engagement around the said lugs to clamp them in position and form molds.- 2. In apparatus for uniting storage batte'ry plates hav ng extended terminal lugs, the combinat c=n with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said holder, of' one or more pairs of bars havin recesses in the upper sides thereof ant toothed edges adapted to be brought into engagement around the said In to clamp them imposition and form limit 9 and means for bringing into engagement the twobai's of each of said pairs.

3. .In apparatus tery plates having extended terminal lugs, the combination with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said f for uniting storage bat each of said airs and means for raising andlowering sen bars and for supporting the same in any desired position;

4. In apparatus 101' uniting storage bat tery plates having extended terminallugs, the combination with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said holder, of one or more pairs of bars havin recesses in the upper sides thereof and toothed edges adapted to be brought into engagement around the said .lugs to clamp them in position and form molds, means for bringing into engughment the two bars of each of said pairs, means for raising and lowering said bars and for sup orting the same in an desired POSlliOIl am means for heat ing said bars when in a raised 'posii ion. 5

5. in apparatus for uniting storage baltery planes having extended terminal lugs, the combination with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said holder, of one or more pairs of bars having recesses In the upper sides thereof and toothed edges adapted to be brought. imo c-ngagement around the said lugs to clamp them in position and form molds, means forbringing into engagement the two burs of each of said pairs, means [or'raising and lowering said bars and for supporting the same in any desired POFiElOfi, means for heating said bars when in a raised posiiion and means for automatically turning off the heat when said bars are lowered. i

'6. in apparatus for uniting storage bartery plates having extended terminal hugs, the combinn! ion with r. holder for said plates and means for c oiiipresizing the same in said holder, of one or more ifrs of bars having gill) recessed edges adapts around the said lugs to clamp them in position and form molds, and means for bringi into engagement the two bars ofeach of sai 7. Inapparatus for uniting storage battery plates having extended terminal lugs, the combination with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said holder, of one or more u-irs of bars having d to be brought together so as to clamp said lugs in said recesses and means for bringing into engagement the two bars of each of said pairs. 8. In apparatus for uniting storage battery plates having extended terminal lugs, the combination with a holder for said plates and means for compressing the same in said holder, of one or more pairs of bars having I toothed edges adapted to be brought into engagement so as to surround and clamp the said lugs and means for bringing into engagement the two bars of each of said pairs.

9. In apparatus for seconds. battery plates, the combination with a older for said plates and one or more airs of laterally movable bars having teet which intermesh to clamp the lugs between them and having recesses through which the lugs 'project, of means for moving the bars of each 80 pair toward and away from each other. I 10. In an ap ara-tus for uniting storage ---battery plates avirg extending terminal Jugs, the combination with a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of bars having $5 toothed edges adapted to be brought into engagement around the lugs to clamp them in position and to form molds.

11. In an ap ara-tus for uniting storage battery plates aving extending terminal I '40 lugs, the combination of a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of molds provided with toothed edges adapted to be brought into engagement around said lugs to clamp them in position in said molds.

' is 12. In up aratus for uniting storage battery plates aving extending terminal lugs, the combination with a holder forsaidplates' of one or more pairs of bars having recesses in the upper sides thereof, and edges adapted to be brought into engagement around said lugs to clamp them in position and form molds.

' '-.13 In apparatus for uniting storage batte rgf plates aving extending terminallugd,

56 the combination with a holder for said lates of one or more pairs of bars having rece in the upper sides thereof and edges ada ted to be brought into engagement aroun the.

said lugs tnjclamp them in position and 0 form moids, and means for raising and lowering said bars and for supporting the same in any desiredposition.

-' 14.111 9. aratus for uniting storage battery plates ring extending terminal lugs,

. batte it the combination with a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of bars having recesses in the upper sides thereof and edges adapted 'to'be brought into engagement aroun the said lugsto clamp them inposition and form the combination with a holder for said plates.

of one or more pairs of bars having recesses -in the upper sides thereof and recessed edges ada te to be brought togetheraround the sai lugs to clamp them in position and form molds, and means for bringing into engagement the two bars of each of said pairs.

16. In an apparatus for uniting storage plates aving extending terminal lugs, t e combination with a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of bars having edges adapted to be brought into engagement around said lugs to clamp them-in po sition and to form molds, and means for rais-- ing and lowering said bars and for supporting the same in any desired position.

17. In an apparatus for uniting storage batter plates aving extending terminal lugs, t .6 combinationwith a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of bars having toothed edges ada ted to be brought into engagement aroun said lugs to clamp them -in position and form molds, means for bringing into engagement the two bars of each of said pairs, means for raising and lowering said bars and for supporting the same 1n any desired position, and means for heating said bars when i'i 'a raised position.

18. In an apparatus for uniting storage batter plates aving extending terminal lugs, t e combination with a holder for said plates of one or more pairs of bars having reeessed edges ada ted to be brought into engagement aroun said lugs to clamp them in position and form molds, and means for ringing into engagement the two bars of each of said pairs.

. 19. In an ap' aratus for uniting storage battery plates aving extending terminal lugs, the combination of a holder for said plates, means for compressing the plates in said holder, molds for receiving the lugs of' said plates, means for adjusting the (position of and molds, and means, controlle b the q,diusting mechanism of said molds, for estv in 5a... molds.

ary, 1904.

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